The hum of the freighter's hyperdrive was a soothing backdrop, but Raditz's senses remained sharp. He had no doubt the enemy would keep chasing them. Korrath's forces were relentless, and the faint power signatures Raditz had sensed earlier still tugged at his awareness, like wolves circling their prey.
Zalor sat in the cockpit, nervously scanning the star charts. "We're clear for now," he muttered, though his voice lacked conviction.
"For now," Raditz said, not looking up from the ship's control panel. He had spent hours tinkering with the freighter's navigation systems, setting up random course deviations to confuse anyone trying to follow them. "But they'll find us again. These hunters won't stop."
Zalor nodded, his face pale. "Korrath's men are ruthless. They'll tear this ship apart if they catch us."
"Let them try," Raditz said, a dangerous grin spreading across his face. Despite his caution, he couldn't deny the thrill of a potential fight. His Saiyan blood craved the challenge.
Their temporary reprieve didn't last long. Just as Zalor had feared, the proximity alarm blared, signaling an incoming ship.
Raditz shot to his feet, his ki flaring instinctively before he suppressed it again. "Stay here," he ordered Zalor, moving toward the airlock.
The pursuing ship wasn't subtle. It was a sleek, black vessel, clearly built for speed and combat. Raditz could sense several power levels aboard none strong enough to rival him, but enough to make the fight interesting.
"Looks like they've found us," Raditz muttered, stepping into the airlock as the enemy ship docked with theirs. He cracked his knuckles, anticipation building.
The hatch hissed open, and a squad of armored aliens stormed through, weapons at the ready. They froze when they saw Raditz standing there, his arms crossed, his tail swishing lazily behind him.
"Turn around," Raditz said, his voice low and dangerous. "Or this ends badly for you."
The squad leader, a hulking creature with red skin and tusks, sneered. "Surrender the fugitive, and we'll let you live."
Raditz's grin widened. "Wrong answer."
In a blur of motion, he was upon them. His fist collided with the squad leader's face, sending the alien crashing into the wall. Before the others could react, Raditz unleashed a burst of ki, the explosion sending them sprawling.
The fight was over in seconds. Raditz stood amidst the wreckage, his breathing steady. "Pathetic," he muttered, stepping over the unconscious bodies.
After ensuring the enemy ship was disabled, Raditz returned to Zalor, who looked both relieved and terrified. "You handled them?" Zalor asked.
"They weren't worth my time," Raditz said. "But their ship might be."
The enemy vessel was equipped with advanced scanning equipment, and Raditz wasted no time putting it to use. The data revealed something intriguing: a signal emanating from a nearby star system, matching the descriptions Zalor had given of the artifact's location.
"This could be it," Raditz said, studying the star map. "The Heart of the Cosmos, or whatever you called it."
Zalor hesitated. "It might be a trap. Korrath could have planted false leads to lure us in."
"Then we'll spring the trap," Raditz said, his confidence unshaken. "If there's a chance this artifact exists, I'm taking it."
The coordinates led them to a desolate planet, its surface scarred by ancient battles. Raditz could feel faint power signatures scattered across the landscape, remnants of a once-great civilization.
As they descended, Zalor grew visibly anxious. "This place… it feels wrong," he said.
Raditz ignored him, his focus on the task ahead. They landed near what appeared to be a massive temple, its entrance flanked by crumbling statues. The air was thick with tension, as if the planet itself was holding its breath.
"Stay here," Raditz told Zalor, stepping out of the ship. "I'll handle this."
The temple's interior was dark and foreboding, its walls etched with strange symbols that glowed faintly. Raditz could feel a pulsing energy deep within, drawing him forward.
As he ventured deeper, he encountered resistance: automated defenses, ancient traps, and finally, a group of Korrath's soldiers who had beaten him there.
Raditz smirked, his Saiyan pride surging. "You're in my way."
The ensuing battle was fierce, but Raditz relished the challenge. Each opponent pushed him further, forcing him to adapt and grow stronger. By the time he reached the artifact's chamber, he was bloodied but victorious, his power surging from the thrill of battle.
The artifact itself was underwhelming a small, unassuming crystal that pulsed with faint light. Raditz picked it up, studying it with a frown. "This is what all the fuss was about?"
But as he held it, the crystal emitted a surge of energy, flooding his mind with visions of ancient warriors and forgotten techniques. It wasn't the ultimate weapon Zalor had described, but it was valuable in its own right.
This could be useful, Raditz thought, tucking the crystal away.
As he left the temple, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Korrath's forces wouldn't stop, and the artifact was only a small piece of a much larger puzzle.
But for now, Raditz had what he needed: another step toward his ultimate goal.